York: Daiquiri Bay fends off rivals to land thrilling Ebor on the Knavesmire

Daiquiri Bay followed up Royal Ascot success with another lucrative victory in the Sky Bet Ebor at York.

While the four-year-old has always been a smart handicapper for Alan King, he has taken his game to another level since being gelded during the off-season, with a comeback win at Newmarket followed by his narrow verdict in the Copper Horse Stakes at the Royal meeting in June.

King had opted to keep his powder dry for the £500,000 feature of the Ebor Festival since and was rewarded in some style, with Rossa Ryan burying his mount in midfield for much of the one-mile-six-furlong journey before making his move shortly after the home turn.

Daiquiri Bay moved stylishly into contention and with the near side rail to help, dug deep in the closing stages to get the better of the Wathnan Racing-owned pair of Hopewell Rock and Opportunity in a thrilling three-way finish.

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King said: "It was a great ride from Rossa and I'm just blown away.

"We still have plenty of hurdlers and he'd make a nice one, but I don't think I'll suggest that today!

"This has been the plan since Ascot, after that Rossa said to put him away for the Ebor as he had a tough race. He broke the track record at Ascot, so we were able to give him a little break and build him up.

"His preparation has gone great, the rain came and I almost think he's a better horse on slow ground."

He added: "It's a very special day. We had the favourite back in 2003 with Salsalino, but he only finished third. It's a very special race.

"We came hopeful he'd run well and he was always in the right place, but I thought the Wathnan horses were coming to do me.

"He was entitled to do what he did and he was still on the up, so we hoped. Horses we've brought here before have been more exposed. We actually needed him to go up after Ascot so he was guaranteed a run.

"When you win these big races it is always emotional and we don't win as many as we used to.

"I've always tried to win an Ebor but you need one on the way up and this one was."

When asked if he would now consider the Melbourne Cup King laughed: "I don't travel, you do well to get me to go to York!"

Wathnan Racing's adviser Richard Brown was proud of the second and third, with Hopewell Rock a possible runner in Australia's most famous race in November.

Brown said: "It's one of those where you are delighted that they have run so well but you want to win - all credit to Alan King because his horse was so brave.

"I thought we were definitely getting there with Hopewell Rock, but they've run brilliantly.

"The Melbourne Cup reps are here and I still need to find out if he qualifies for it, but that was the plan.

"Opportunity has not been an easy horse; he's actually been quite difficult so William (Haggas) and his team have done a brilliant job with him.

"He might be a Cup horse next year, we'll see. He'll get better with age."